Controlling the Emissive Activity in Heterocyclic Systems Bearing C=P Bonds

The photophysical properties of a series of heteroatom substituted indoles are explored to identify chemical means to control their emissive activity. In particular, we consider impacts of changes in the conjugated backbone, where the C=N bonds of benzoxazoles are replaced by C=P bonds (benzox-aphospholes). The effects of extending the pi-conjugation, incorporating various secondary heteroatoms (X-C=P), and enforcing planar rigidity are also examined. Our computational analysis explains the higher fluorescence efficiency observed with extended pi-conjugation and highlights the importance of maintaining molecular planarity at both ground- and emissive-state geometries.